Ellis Names Roster for South Africa Friendly as Olympics Near

The talk in American soccer circles this month has been all about the U.S. Men’s National Team and its run to the semifinals of the Copa America Centenario where Jurgen Klinsmann’s side went down rather meekly to a tremendously talented Argentina team led, of course, by the magnificent Lionel Messi.

Ellis will be looking closely at all her players for the final selection. (ISI Photos/Brad Smoth)

With South America’s finest teams crisscrossing the country throughout the month of June it is no surprise that we haven’t heard much about the women’s team of late but the two time defending Olympic Champions are back in the news with the release of a 24 player roster for the July 9th match with South Africa at Chicago’s Soldiers Field at 12 p.m. CT, which can also be seen on FS1.

The big news in this 24 player group is the return of stars Carli Lloyd, the biggest star in the women’s game at the moment, and Megan Rapinoe. U.S. Soccer’s release says that Lloyd is fit and will be available for selection but that Rapinoe will not play and is in camp to train and be evaluated.

Rapinoe tore her ACL in early December as the U.S. trained for A Victory Tour match that was later canceled when the players voiced concerns over the condition of the artificial surface at the Aloha Bowl. “Pinoe” was not injured at the Aloha Bowl, sustaining her injury while training at a different location although there were grumblings from the players concerning the practice facility.

Rapinoe will be hoping to make it back in time.(ISI Photos/David Bernal)

With the Women’s Soccer Tournament at the Olympic Games set to get underway on August 3rd, the gifted winger is still thought to be in a race against the clock to get back into tournament level fitness.

With the Women’s Soccer Tournament at the Olympic Games set to get underway on August The talk in American soccer circles this month has been all about the U.S. Men’s National Team and its run to the semifinals of the Copa America Centenario where Jurgen Klinsmann’s side went down rather meekly to a tremendously talented Argentina team led, of course, by the magnificent Lionel Messi.

The Americans last match before traveling to Rio will be against Costa Rica on July 22nd at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas at 8 p.m. CT. That match will be televised on ESPN..